Improvement in toe-weights for horses



J. E. BENSON. Toe-Weight for Horses.

No. 220,919. Patented Oct. 28, I879.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BENSON, OF OYNTHIANA, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOE-WEIGHTS FOR HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,919, dated October28, 1879 application filed April 15, 1879.

To all whom it mag concern: Y

Be it known that I, JAMES E. HENSON, of Gynthiana, Posey county,Indiana, have invented Improvements in Toe Weights for. Horses, ofwhich. the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in weighted horseshoes and it consists inconstructing the shoe and attachments so that the weight may be appliedor removed without detaching the shoe or cutting the hoof, and so that acalk may be substituted for the weight or combined therewith whendesired.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is asection of my improved shoe and weight; Fig. 2, an inverted plan,

shows part of the shoe with the weight; Fig. 3, an inverted plan, theweight and fastener detached; Fig. 4, a detached view, showing thefastener; Fig. 5, an edge view of the shoe, with the detachable calkapplied.

It is common in the application of toeweights to either cut the hoof forthe insertion of the weight-bracket between the shoe and hoof, or tosecure the bracket rigidly to the shoe. The first mode is objectionable,as the cutting in somecases will irritate and inflame the foot. Thesecond mode is open to the objection that the shoe must be removed todetach the weight, and for the reason that the bracket, if stationary,must be removed with the shoe in order to recalk.

My improved shoe is provided with a recess, m, at the under side, towhich'is fitted a detachable fastening-block, a, secured by bolts 0 e,or otherwise.

Between the block a and the shoe, in coinciding sockets t t, is clampedthe heel z of the bracket b, which extends upward in front of the hoofand supports the weight f. The weight is secured to the bracket by ascrewbolt, 9, and the heel is firmly attached by means of a screw, a,passing through both the block a and the shoe, as shown. The weight andits bracket may be removed at any time by withdrawing the screw n andloosening the screws 60, the block a remaining to protect the socket ofthe shoe from being battered, while it further serves as a calk, whichmay be renewed and replaced as it wears away; or the block may bewithdrawn on the renewal of the toe-piece and replaced by another block,6, as shown in Fig. 5, formed to constitute a calk.

It will be apparent that this attachment may be made at the side insteadof the cen; ter, or at both the toe and side. The cutting of the hoof isthus avoided, while the weight may be attached or removed at pleasure.

I claim The combination of the shoe having a recess, w, and socket t atthe under side, the detachable block a, its recess 15, and the bracket11, carrying the weight f and having a heel, 27, adapted to be clampedin the coinciding sockets between the shoe and block, and perforated forthe passage of the screw u, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. HENSON.

Witnesses:

G. W. LOWE, R. D. VINT, A. O. WILKINsoN.

